Burning in the Darkness by Artano

Chapter 1

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

Ten had gone.  Ten had fallen to the wolf, nothing left but the stains upon the stone, their broken bones littering the floor.  Blank-eyed, Finrod stares at the darkness, grief and despair consuming him.  Ten times he had sung.  Ten times the song had faltered and given way as horrible screams filled the pit and the wolf slowly tore his comrades to pieces.  And soon…soon Beren would die as well. 

Slow time passed as he lay sunken against the wall, darkness suffocating him.  Then his ears catch the faint rasp of claws against rough stone.  In the gloom two bright eyes gleam.  Finrod struggles to his feet.  Beside him, he hears Beren straining against his bonds, struggling to break free as the wolf nears.  He closes his eyes, calming his fast-beating heart.  Breathe.  In.  Out.  One last time, Finrod.  Within him, an ember of defiance glows.   One last fight.  His jaw clenches, fists tightening in their chains.  Lifting his head, Finrod glowers at the wolf, eyes burning in the darkness.